Welcome to “Minds on Manufacturing,” a new monthly podcast series brought to you by MC Machinery dedicated to covering timely fabrication/machining topics affecting today’s manufacturers, with an emphasis on the automotive, aerospace, job shop, mold & die, and medical industries.
Our goal is to keep you informed about the latest technology, trends, and best practices while gaining actionable insights from leading industry experts.
So grab a seat, your earbuds, and kick back and listen as our guests share their experiences, anecdotes, tips, tricks, and more relating to industrial manufacturing.
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Latest Episode
Supply Chain Challenges: “Like Playing a Game of Whack-a-Mole”
Manufacturers continue to face supply chain challenges that are impacting delivery time, inventory management and costs. In this episode, MC Machinery Senior Purchasing Manager Brian Howard, Senior Buyer Sheila Uribe and CPG Group National Sales Manager George Johnson discuss the current supply chain challenges facing manufacturers, how they are adjusting to these challenges and expectations for the future.
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FABTECH Sneak Peek
MC Machinery’s Application Manager for Fabrication Mike Koch shares what’s in store at FABTECH November 8, 9 and 10 in Atlanta, including the latest in lasers, automation and press brakes. The Minds on Manufacturing podcast discusses timely fabrication and machining topics impacting today’s manufacturers.
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IMTS Preview
The International Manufacturing Technology Show is right around the corner–September 12th through the 17th at McCormick Place in Chicago. In this episode, MC Machinery’s Mike Bystrek shares what’s in store at this highly anticipated event, including demos of the latest wire and sinker EDMs, automation and precision milling machines.
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Maximizing Productivity with Remote Monitoring
Data has become essential to running a successful, profitable manufacturing company and the pandemic demonstrated that digital technology can be a major competitive advantage. MC Machinery Service & Parts Sales Manager Chris Jarrell discusses how remote monitoring on EDMs and lasers can decrease downtime, prevent costly maintenance issues, reduce bottlenecks and much more.
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Manufacturing Re-Tooled: Adapting the Manufacturing Process to a Changing Environment
MC Machinery Laser and Press Brake Applications Manager Michael Koch discusses solutions to some of the biggest challenges currently facing manufacturers, including labor shortages, skyrocketing material costs, diminishing material quality and the negative effects of high-powered lasers on manufacturing velocity. In his decade-long career at MC Machinery, Koch has held positions in the Installation, Service and Sales Departments, primarily helping customers with specific applications, manufacturing issues and process improvements.
The ABCs of Press Brake ATCs
MC Machinery press brake expert John Meyer discusses press brake automatic tool changers, an increasingly popular technology used by fabricators to improve forming department productivity and efficiency. John shares the different types of press brake ATCs, common production issues that they can solve, what to consider when buying an ATC, how they can impact production, trends in ATC technology, and more.
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The Broken Supply Chain
MC Machinery Marketing Coordinator, Mary Bopp, chats with Consumables Product Group National Sales Manager, George Johnson, and Senior Purchasing Manager, Brian Howard, about how they’re navigating through today’s supply chain.
Social Media Success: How Crotts & Saunders is Using Social Platforms to Establish & Build Customer Relationships
MC Machinery Marketing Coordinator, Mary Bopp, chats with Marketing Coordinator at Crotts and Saunders, Shae Eichele, about how they’re finding success with social media in the Manufacturing industry. Learn about:
• The history of Crotts & Saunders
• The advantages of using social media
• How to involve internal teams with social media
• and much more!
Maximizing Wire EDM Productivity: How to Select the Right Technology for the Job
MC Machinery EDM Applications Engineer Trent Langellier discusses how to maximize wire EDM performance and productivity by using the right technology. Learn about:
• The EDM cutting process
• The advantages of using EDM
• Common mistakes in selecting EDM technology
• How to improve rough-cut speeds
Maximizing Performance and Profit with Laser Consumables
Many fabricators don’t realize the impact of laser consumables on machine performance, longevity and profitability. MC Machinery consumables expert Berny Olguin shares his knowledge and insight based on nearly 20 years of experience helping fabricators get the most out of their laser investment.
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The Diversity Dividend: Women in Manufacturing
In this episode, we discuss the lack of women in the manufacturing industry, the importance of more women in manufacturing jobs, and ways to do that for the benefit of individual businesses, the U.S. manufacturing industry, and the U.S. economy. Listen to our interviews with Minnesota college student Lindsey Lawton, Allison Grealis, president of the organization Women in Manufacturing, and Joy Abbitt, a territory manager with BluTec Machinery.
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Wisconsin Fabricator Thrives with Unique Business Model
Founded by two fabrication industry veterans, 3 Phaze Fab focuses on its core strengths to succeed in a competitive and challenging manufacturing environment. Learn more by listening to this engaging discussion between 3 Phaze Fab co-owners Kurt Wollenberg and Tad Kallas and MC Machinery National Press Brake Product Manager David Bray.
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Reducing Production Bottlenecks with New Technology
On the second part of this episode, MC Machinery’s David Bray and Ranger HVAC Production Manager Ryan Schlarb dive a little deeper into how to eliminate production bottlenecks and why investing in equipment and smart technology is important to both getting and keeping customers.
How Smart Technology is Spurring Growth at Ranger HVAC
On the newest episode of Minds on Manufacturing, MC Machinery’s David Bray and Ranger HVAC Production Manager Ryan Schlarb discuss how new machines and technology have allowed the Canadian company to expand its customer base–during a pandemic, no less.
Also covered: How to eliminate production bottlenecks and why investing in equipment and smart technology is important to both getting and keeping customers.
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How investments in automation have helped Staub Manufacturing grow.
For most small- and mid-sized manufacturers, being competitive while turning a profit isn’t easy. Survival requires investment. Staub Manufacturing Solutions co-founder and President Steve Staub discuss how investments in automation have helped his company expand while also giving employees opportunities to grow their job responsibilities and increase their wages.
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The ins and out of press brake tooling
Listen in as MC Machinery Press Brake Product Manager, David Bray, talks with Wilson Tool Product Manager, Steve Brown about how to select the right press brake tooling features for you and your company.
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How JGR maintains its competitive edge
Listen in as Joe Gibbs Racing Technical Sponsorship and Marketing Director Mark Bringle gives a behind-the-scenes look at the manufacturing processes that have propelled top NASCAR drivers including Danny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Marvin Truex, Jr. to victory.
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What makes a leader in off-road fabrication.
In this episode, Cody Waggoner shares how he started and grew Lasernut into one of Southern California’s premier laser shops for the automotive industry. Cody also talks about Lasernut Racing, the team for which he competes in off-road vehicle “rock crawling” events, and how he built a 3,200 -square-foot container house on 10 acres in the Mojave Desert named Laser Town.